Sunrise Reef

Best months: Dec–Apr

Why dive here

With 297+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, giant moray eels, grey reef sharks and seahorses - Sunrise Reef offers some of Yap's richest reef diving. Water ranges 29-30°C, warmest June, July, October.

Best timeDec–Apr

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Giant Moray Eels, Grey Reef Sharks and Seahorses · 297+ species recorded

Water29-30°C · warmest June, July, October

CharacterReef dive · max 5-15m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Sunrise Reef in Yap, Micronesia, really shines. It’s a shallow, bright dive, topping out at 15m, perfect for an easy start to the day. We love coming here first thing when the light is just right – that early morning sun filtering through the water makes the staghorn corals glow. You’ll spend most of your time around 10 meters, drifting over huge patches of those branching corals, where we often spot chameleon parrotfish munching away. What makes it special for us isn't just the sheer number of species – we’ve logged over 700 here – it’s the combination of the light, the healthy coral, and those unexpected encounters. We've had green sea turtles cruise past, completely unfazed, and once even saw a few small reef sharks patrolling the deeper edge. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too: banded fringe blennies popping out of their holes or the intricate patterns of a reticulated venus shell tucked into the sand. It’s a gentle, relaxing dive, ideal for new divers or anyone wanting a peaceful, pretty swim.